Rose Kennedy Greenway attracts a new crowd

Thursday

Jun 22, 2017 at 7:00 AM

With a beer garden, a zip line, art installations and more, the Greenway has become a gathering spot for a younger demographic.

By Jody FeinbergThe Patriot Ledger

Like a potent fertilizer, the new beer garden on The Rose Kennedy Greenway has created robust growth – as measured in crowds. Since The Trillium Garden opened two weeks ago on The Greenway at High Street, more than 100 people regularly wait in line because it’s filled to capacity, set at 325 people.

“The Greenway is finally opening itself up to young professionals,” said Cam Walker, 31, who came with two friends after finishing his day as an administrator at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. “It’s a treat to have really good beer and good conversation outdoors.”

Started in Fort Point by husband and wife JC and Esther Tetreault four years ago, Trillium Brewing Company won the concession because it has both a strong local following and an international reputation, said Michael Nichols, chief of staff of The Greenway Conservancy, which manages The Greenway. Last year, the website RateBeer ranked it the third-best brewery in the world.

“We are very intentional about the way we develop new elements,” Nichols said. “We dream up ideas for how to use the space and bring people to it, and we want something to be not just good, but great.”

Esther Tetreault said she believes the beer garden is so popular not just because of the high quality brews, but because Boston has nothing else like it.

“So many cool cities have beer gardens and Boston has lacked that,” she said. “The location on The Greenway is incredible.”

On a recent Thursday evening, anyone would have noticed the vibrancy on the once relatively quiet 1.3-mile ribbon of parkland from Chinatown to the North End. In Dewey Square, a DJ played music and a bartender served up Budweiser for hundreds of people at the weekly Boston Calling Block Party.

Steps away, people made purchases in the Boston Public Market Association’s farmers’ market and bought dinner at the Bon Me food truck. On the grass at Milk Street, several dozen people took a fitness class and later another several dozen played corn hole, organized by Social Boston Sports. Others stopped to look at “The Meeting House” near Pearl Street, an art installation by Mark Reigelman inspired by the Pembroke Friends Meeting House that made some people think of “The Wizard of Oz” farm house after it landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. The installation is one of nine by local and national artists that will be set up on The Greenway this summer.

All this activity – just a sample of the planned 400 happenings – reflects the push by The Conservancy to add new attractions and activities. With its carousel and water sprinkler parks popular among young children, The Greenway recently installed the Z, a zip line on the other side of Faneuil Hall that it expects will appeal to teenagers. Attached to harnesses, riders descend two-at-a-time from a 30-foot-tall platform until they bounce off a rubber-covered spring and touch ground, ending an adrenaline rush.

“We tend to be an innovator for the city and dream up these ideas for how to use the space and bring people to it,” Nichols said. “I’ve never seen a zip line in the heart of a major city.”

The Z, Trillium Garden, Block Party, carousel and other attractions provide much-needed revenue to The Conservancy. Without this income stream, it would be unable to manage the park and offer public programs, festivals and art, since state funds are restricted to horticulture and maintenance, Nichols said. Just this week, The Conservancy reached an agreement with the state and other partners that would reduce state funding from $2 million to $750,000 by 2020, but raise $1 million a year from hotels and office towers along the park, who agree to form a Boston Improvement District and pay a small additional tax to support what is widely viewed as a valuable amenity. The City of Boston also has committed $250,00.

Donations also support The Conservancy, such as the one last year to hire an education specialist to create free art and play drop-in programs for young children. Volunteers – some of The Conservancy’s nearly 1,000 – lead the playtimes.

The Tetreaults, who live outside Boston with their two young children, have enjoyed strolling through The Greenway and appreciate its abundant gardens and plantings. In fact, JC, who is passionate about horticulture, named their brewery after a native flower he considers beautiful and simple.

“Beauty and simplicity of flavor are something we try to bring to our beer,” Esther said. “We’ve also tried to make our beer accessible, so that even people who say they don’t like beer will find a style they enjoy. We’ve made 300 beers, and the staff is skilled in helping people select ones they will like.”

Choosing each night from eight draft lines – made in the company’s Canton brewery – and three wines from Westport Rivers Winery, customers order at stainless steel counters and enjoy their drinks sitting at glossy wood picnic tables, standing near tall wooden barrels or leaning against the split-rail fence.

The beer garden will be open Wednesday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Architect Cindy Lee, a frequent customer waiting in line with her husband, said the design works well.

“The garden has a rustic look that a lot of micro breweries have,” she said. “I like the way it uses the space, and I like the social atmosphere. The beer is really good and hard to find on tap. It’s worth waiting for.”

For more information and schedule of events, go to www.rosekennedygreenway.org.

Jody Feinberg may be reached at jfeinberg@ledger.com or follow on Twitter @JodyF_Ledger.